The Fred Hollows Foundation has welcomed the Federal Government’s 2022-23 Federal Budget, including $1.2 billion in practical measures to Close the Gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities.
CEO Ian Wishart said The Foundation backed meaningful targets to measure progress towards better equity and access to healthcare.
“For too long communities have suffered as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and health services have felt the strains of increased costs of delivery, chronic underfunding and dwindling workforce availability,” Mr Wishart said.
“The Fred Hollows Foundation believes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people deserve better and we must all own the commitment to closing the gap.
“We welcome the government’s $314.8 million commitment over five years from 2022–23 to closing the gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ health and wellbeing outcomes. We are hopeful this will help us address the gap in eye health as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are still three times more likely to be blind or vision impaired than other Australians.
“Housing is a significant social determinant of health and there is an urgent need for safer, community-led design and maintenance of affordable housing which the government’s Housing Australia Future Fund will help address. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities endure some of the worst housing standards in the world.
“We also support the government’s commitment of $6.5 million to support the Referendum on an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament and genuine consultation through the establishment of special advisory groups.
“The Foundation continues Fred’s commitment to social justice, upholding the right of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to self-determination.
“Establishing a Makarrata Commission to supervise a process of agreement-making and truth-telling is key to structural reform and constitutional change, and we are pleased to see that $5.8 million has been provided over three years to set this up.
“Fred believed that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people always gave the best advice on issues that affected them, and the government should take his fair approach.”
COVER PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Amendolia